Niseko Now: Saturday 10th December 2022
- Dec 10, 2022
- 4 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 6cm
Snowfall at base this season 155cm
Posted on Saturday 10th December 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
10:30am update:
And now the snow has stopped and it is quite bright. OK, I'll shut up for the day! :)
10:00am update:
I am in Hanazono and just wanted to share that it is snowing quite heavily at the moment. Big flakes.
Original morning report:
Good morning from Niseko.
It is a calm morning and snowing in places (and not in others), with light snow showers are still due through the day. Looks like it was clearer earlier in the morning, but I missed that. Looking at the Annupuri webcam, it seems like it is snowing over right now.
Yesterday I enjoyed a few hours over at Hanazono. There was lots of snow (actually, more than what I measured and reported in my morning report), and I had a very enjoyable morning. And Hanazono is now pretty much all open. The course connection between Hirafu and Hanazono is available too, with the King Number 3 quad making its debut for the season at Niseko Grand Hirafu. (That connection officially closes at 3pm).
The Niseko Gondola at Niseko Village also makes its debut this morning.
The mountain is still of course a fair way to being fully open, but we are on the way and there's plenty of snow to enjoy for the moment.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Mountain base 7am: -6℃, 5cm snow overnight, light winds, sunny. Coastal data: Benkei cape W4m/s, Kamui cape W7m/s, 1017hPa, 1.2m waves. Elevation 600m: 5cm snow overnight at 600m, -5℃, light winds, sunny, no snowdrift development.
The winter type weather pressure system has weakened and the seas and mountains are calm. Above 1000m the light W10m/s wind continues with slow cornice and snow drift development. From data evaluation avalanche risk is low on all aspects. Still low tide out there though, bamboo and bushes are not covered. Do not duck the ropes to ride out of the resort areas. Currently we are under a high pressure system, with shallow pressure gradient and no significant snow clouds. Groomers are running top notch so take note of your speed. An injury now could take you out for the season, be cautious. Have a good weekend.
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Individual ski area information for Saturday 10th December 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall numbers are manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day at the time of writing.
Official snow depth numbers in brackets show the change since previous report.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 110cm (+20cm change since yesterday)
- Base: 70cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Ace Number 2 quad (Center Four) (8:30am-3:10pm)
- Ace Number 3 pair (8:40am-3:30pm)
- King Number 3 quad (8:40am-3:15pm)
Courses:
- Jumbo (lower area ungroomed)
- Rinkan (lower area)
- Beginners access
- Center
- Kokutai
- Green
- Alpen (lower area ungroomed)
- Sennoki
- Family
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 3cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 106cm (-4cm change since yesterday)
- Base: 80cm (-10cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Hanazono Number 1 (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Hanazono Number 2 quad (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Hanazono Number 3 quad (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola (8:30am-4:00pm)
Courses:
- All main courses are now available
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Niseko Annupuri Kokusai
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 15cm
- Base: 15cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 90cm (+5cm change since yesterday)
- Base: 75cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Annupuri Gondola (8:30am-3:15pm)
- Dream Number 1 quad (9:00am-4:30pm)
- Jumbo Number 1 quad (8:30am-4:00pm)
Courses:
- Utopia
- Shirakaba
- Paradise
- Family
- Junior
- Beginner course by the Dream lift
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Niseko Village Ski Resort
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 8cm
- Base: 10cm
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 98cm (+8cm change since yesterday)
- Base: 90cm (+10cm change since yesterday)
Lifts:
- Niseko Gondola (8:30am-3:00pm)
- Village Express (8:30am-4:00pm)
- Community Chair (8:30am-4:00pm)
- Banzai Chair (8:30am-4:00pm)
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Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort
Lifts:
- Number 1 pair lift (8:30am-3:30pm)
- Number 2 pair lift (8:30am-3:30pm)
Niseko Now 2022-2023 season |
Data as of Saturday 10th December 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 155cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 15 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 20cm (2nd December) November 2022 snowfall 17cm reported on 5 days December 2022 snowfall 138cm reported on 10 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.